# The Internet is abuzz right now with a massive celebrity cellphone hack. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2014, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136 "2014-09-01T09:36:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/41 "2014-09-01T21:38:26Z")
Apple is reportedly [investigating](http://recode.net/2014/09/01/apple-says-it-is-actively-investigating-celeb-photo-hack/). The lede makes it sound like a foregone conclusion that icloud was involved, but all they’ve confirmed for now is that they’re investigating. Some victims have said the photos are old and had been deleted. That could mean a cloud service was retaining old files. Or, that the photos were obtained over a long period of time and have only just now been leaked. It usually turns out that hacks are less sophisticated than they seem. I’m still leaning towards social engineering / poor passwords until more info comes to light. In the meantime, [enable 2 step verification](http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5570). [Dropbox](https://www.dropbox.com/help/363) and [Google](https://www.google.com.au/landing/2step/) too, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/42 "2014-09-01T21:58:51Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Hopefully not His Excellency. And on the subject of rulers, once again, the world is subject to Prince Henry’s fundament. I never thought that being a subject would mean having to look at him. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/43 "2014-09-01T22:13:06Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > Some victims have said the\*\* photos are old\*\* and had been deleted. That could mean a cloud service was retaining **old files**. Or, that the photos were obtained over a long period of time and **have only just now** been leaked. All you guys who downloaded the photos of McKayla Maroney are dreading the next unexpected knock on the door… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/44 "2014-09-01T22:58:44Z")
Extra points to the person on Reddit that has dubbed this “The Fappening.” ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/45 "2014-09-02T03:05:40Z")
[I like this Forbes article about the whole thing.](http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2014/09/01/jennifer-lawrence-nude-photo-leak-isnt-a-scandal-its-a-sex-crime/) Some Quotes: > [@](#): > > Ms. Lawrence and the other victims have absolutely nothing to apologize for in terms of the contents of the photos or the nature in which they were leaked. The story itself should not be addressed as if it were a scandal, but rather what it is: A sex crime involving theft of personal property and the exploitation of the female body. > _\_ > The victims involved have committed no crime and committed no sin by creating said photos in the first place or in “allowing” them to be stolen. What occurred yesterday is a theft and a crime, plain and simple. It is a personal violation of a prurient nature > _\_ > It is a crime of theft with the intent to exploit its victims as punishment for the unpardonable sin of being female. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/46 "2014-09-02T03:45:59Z")
meanwhile, in related news - [Mysterious Phony Cell Towers Could Be Intercepting Your Calls](http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/mysterious-phony-cell-towers-could-be-intercepting-your-calls) apparently there are cell towers built just to intercept and control phones. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/47 "2014-09-02T08:06:03Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > A hacker friend of mine (pretty high level, with the ability to decap chips and modilfy them with his own scanning tunneling electron microscope) claims that Rupert has on his payroll one of the most elite hacking organizations on the planet - forget the cellphone stuff, that’s amatur hour compared to what his people are actually involved in. You might want to look up what he did to ITV DIgital. He completely destroyed the company by having his hackers break their encryption (for their pay services) and then distributing fake cards that allowed people access without paying. Bankrupted them, secured the market for his own BSkyB. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/48 "2014-09-02T08:09:38Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > [I like this Forbes article about the whole thing.](http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2014/09/01/jennifer-lawrence-nude-photo-leak-isnt-a-scandal-its-a-sex-crime/) > > Some Quotes: Theft isn’t a sex crime. > [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > All you guys who downloaded the photos of McKayla Maroney are dreading the next unexpected knock on the door… Anyone who hasn’t accidentally stumbled onto child pornography hasn’t really explored the internet. Don’t wash your eyes with soap, it hurts. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/49 "2014-09-02T08:20:37Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Extra points to the person on Reddit that has dubbed this “The Fappening.” Wikipeeks. Better. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/50 "2014-09-02T08:42:27Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > I stand corrected. That’s really bad. Indeed. And all too many people use the same password all over the place. All you need is one app that leaks the info and suddenly you are wide open. Although I really don’t exactly see myself as a viable target, what with being a pretty anonymous programmer, I’ve taken it as a wake up call to get my own security in order. Two step authentication wherever will do it and long, unique passwords for all my services. A decent password manager (with, of course, a decent password to unlock it) will let you generate strong passwords for individual sites. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/51 "2014-09-02T09:02:00Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > [I like this Forbes article about the whole thing.](http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2014/09/01/jennifer-lawrence-nude-photo-leak-isnt-a-scandal-its-a-sex-crime/) > > Some Quotes: Are there actually people who are saying Ms. Lawrence et al have anything to apologise for? The excerpts you quote sound like strawman bashing. And even if there is some constituency that is feeling angry at all these celebrities, I’m sure there is a much larger one that feels grateful. I know that’s my attitude to all these celebrity leaks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/52 "2014-09-02T11:11:00Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Extra points to the person on Reddit that has dubbed this “The Fappening.” And “The Fapture”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/53 "2014-09-02T12:55:08Z")
I’m pretty sure this is all just an elaborate marketing campaign for that Cameron Diaz “Sex Tape” movie that just came out. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/54 "2014-09-02T13:34:28Z")
While I’m not surprised, I’m still disappointed to learn that J-Law shaves the D-Low. Or, as some commentater put it, “Jennifer removed all bushes from the Lawrence!” ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/55 "2014-09-02T14:01:13Z")
I think it’s enlightening that, minus professional hair & makeup, these girls’ appearances are much less exceptional. Still very pretty, of course, but also much more in line with the pretty girls you pass by on the street every day. The “wow” factor just isn’t there the same way it can be on screen. Except for Kate Upton. It turns out she looks like she was miracled into existence by a sex fairy no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/56 "2014-09-02T14:28:15Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > Except for Kate Upton. It turns out she looks like she was miracled into existence by a sex fairy no matter what. This bears repeating. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/57 "2014-09-02T14:43:23Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > All you guys who downloaded the photos of McKayla Maroney are dreading the next unexpected knock on the door… She was the only one i was worried about and the reason i only looked at individual celebs rather than DLing the whole pack. At this point though the number of people who have those pictures has to be in tens of millions, i doubt there is going to be any door to door campaigns even if she turns out to be 17 in them. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/58 "2014-09-02T15:01:10Z")
Sure, a lot of folks are happy about these pics coming out, but I think a lot of women aren’t going to let their BFs take pictures because of this. It may well be a net minus. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/59 "2014-09-02T15:03:41Z")
There is a disappointing lack of respect for people’s privacy in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136/60 "2014-09-02T15:57:34Z")
Disappointing? more like completely expected. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-is-abuzz-right-now-with-a-massive-celebrity-cellphone-hack/697136.md?page=4)